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McCain has been working the cell phone during spare moments on the trail, keying on high-profile conservative figures.
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In that sense, McCain’s recent success amplifies the character traits that supporters like most about him and enhances his personal stature for a general election race.

In other ways, however, he reached his current perch less from any brilliant political moves of his own than from a series of well-timed breaks and from the bad decisions and assorted defects of his challengers.

Rudy Giuliani’s decision in December to significantly reduce his television campaign in New Hampshire, for instance, helped clear the way for McCain’s surge with Granite State moderates and independents, and in retrospect was a critical error by the New York mayor.

Even more important, no candidate emerged as the dominant conservative alternative. Not Mitt Romney, whose maneuvering on litmus-test ideological issues called his own credibility into question. Not Fred Thompson, whose candidate skills showed that he is no Ronald Reagan. Not Mike Huckabee, a favorite of social conservatives but not more traditional fiscal ones.

The problem with such an approach is that it has not clearly built a consensus around McCain. So far, more Republican caucus and primary voters have backed one of his opponents than have backed McCain.

This leaves him shadowed by more second-guessing and doubts among party ranks than any major party nominee since George McGovern bested the Democratic establishment to win the presidential nomination in 1972.

This means Thursday’s CPAC event will be closely scrutinized.

One adviser to McCain who has close relationships with many conservatives said the senator would emphasize a “holy trinity” of sorts for the movement: “[staying] strong in the war on terror and looking out for our interests in foreign policy, being tough on taxes and spending, and appointing judges who will not legislate from the bench.

“He won’t satisfy everybody, but he will address traditional concerns for conservatives,” the adviser said.

For now, McCain is getting plenty of advice, solicited and otherwise, about how to repair his leaks with conservatives.

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), an important younger-generation House leader, said that despite what The Wall Street Journal has called McCain’s “apostasy” on conservative issues, he will rally behind him as the presumptive GOP nominee.

“There is some work that is going to need to be done” to unify the party, Cantor said.

He emphasized, as did many conservative leaders, that the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law and McCain’s support for a moderate version of immigration reform present particular obstacles.

Barbour suggested that McCain could win many converts if he said that support for the constitutionality of McCain-Feingold legislation will not be a litmus test for his federal court nominees.

For all the griping in some quarters, McCain has some powerful cards to play with conservatives. His national security credentials — and, in the words of Cantor, belief in “duty, honor and country” — remain of incalculable value among the base.

Even some who withheld their endorsement, such as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), emphasized that McCain has “been fantastic on spending,” and that offered him a bridge to fiscal conservatives who were frustrated by his one-time opposition to Bush’s tax cuts. (McCain now supports them.)

“That’s what I’ve been pushing most: his fiscal credentials,” agreed Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who has endorsed his home-state senator.

A prominent social conservative, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, said in an interview, “I’m willing to sit down and say we all make mistakes if he will come to the conclusion that some of the things he has worked on in the past, like McCain-Feingold, which in some ways the courts have deconstructed,” were mistakes. He added, “He must make social conservatives feel that he, No. 1, understands their issues; No. 2, believes in their issues; and No. 3, will advance them as president.”

Mary Matalin, a prominent Republican commentator and former adviser to Vice President Cheney, said McCain must make a series of symbolic and substantive moves.

“He has to make a very specific statement with his VP choice and make it early,” Matalin said. “And he needs to give an economic speech, not just about tax cuts, and make it early. He’s got to show an internal understanding of what a growth economic policy is.”

Just as important, Matalin said, is McCain’s tone.

“Stop embracing the language of liberals,” she suggested, for starters. “You cannot attack Big Pharma, you cannot attack business the way liberals do.”

Readers' Comments (772)

I believe that John McCain hates conservative ideals. That is why he has one foot across the aisle at all times. Unlike Reagan, his idea of working with Democrats always includes surrendering to their agenda. When was the last time John McCain persuaded liberals to join a conservative bill (besides the Iraq war)?

Liberals praise McCain and call him a maverick. What they really mean is that he is one of them.

His illegal alien amnesty bill equates to treason. His presidential hopes ended with the 11th back door push of HIS immigration bill. Then he suddenly denounces his own bill to get back into the race. He sounds like Charles Rangel. What does he say today.. now that he is back in the race? Today as president he would sign the bill that includes no guaranteed enforcment but hundreds of billions in new incentives to increase the flow of illegal aliens. Is this guy an idiot or what?

What can we learn from John McCain's voting record and statements? John McCain is the Manchurian candidate.

To the first three posters - I'm naive, please enlighten me. McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts as a fiscal conservative, unwilling to lower revenues without also lowering spending. How does this make him despicable in so many eyes? Seems like a more conservative position than the rest of his Congressional colleagues who spent and spent like drunken sailors who passed the tab onto their children. Seems like a reasonable and principled position to me. And do you hold the same vitriol for President Bush, whose stance on immigration is so similar to McCain's? And do you really believe that Hillary and Bill Clinton in the White House will be better for the country? Please, help me out here....

Senator John McCain should extend a warm hand to "conservatives." But, he is making a big mistake if he listens to all these ninnies and bows at their feet. He is also making a big mistake by emphasizing all of his endorsements. He should stand alone and strong (with the voters at his back) and carry a big stick of his own. He should give them nothing but straight talk. If they threaten to sit at home or vote for the Democrats, then who are they? To hell with them. In addition, these "conservatives" are either wrong or lying to say that they include Evangelicals. These "conservatives" are clinging so tightly to their dogma and their radio host mullahs because they have no other beliefs or Faith of their own.

A proposed truce from McCain to conservatives is basically a request for conservatives to facilitate his vision of average political goals for the next 4 - 8 years. He'll need to offer a lot more in any proposal. He would be a huge disappointment to conservatives. I can deal with disappointment by taking myself out of emotional attachments and becoming 100% objective. Objectively, I see he hasn't wrapped up the nomination, so I guess he can stick it for now, and sweeten the deal should the next month favor him. For the record, if he picks Huckabee for a running mate, the future will look bleak indeed to me.

McCain is where he is because of his duplicity and deception. His rough and tumble campaign against Mitt Romney has been filled with robo-calls that have lied about Mitt Romney's positions. He did it in Florida, California and elsewhere. There are recorded accounts of McCain saying that Mitt favored early withdrawal from Iraq, that Mitt supported abortion and amnesty. McCain's continued backroom politics of promises that will ultimately be broken, have brought him Florida and West Virginia via Mike Huckabee and elsewhere. Not being a conspiratist, I do believe that John McCain and Mike Huckabee have been cooperative conspirators for McCain to gain the nomination and deny the conservative voices of the Republican Party through Mitt Romney, or anyone else. I find it difficult in any circumstances to support one who will say (lie) and do anything to gain the Presidency. At least Mitt Romney retained his principles and honor. A McCain-Obama election will be an embarassment for the Republican Party and a disaster for America. McCain cannot compete against Obama. It will be a Dole campaign all over again. McCain's personal power trip is not for America's benefit, but for John McCain's. Perhaps we should just get it over with and be done with him in the Republican Party once and for all!

And do you hold the same vitriol for President Bush, whose stance on immigration is so similar to McCain's? And do you really believe that Hillary and Bill Clinton in the White House will be better for the country? Please, help me out here....

Bush wanted any immigration bill to pass. I suspect to end the chain migration that is importing millions of more poor and uneducated that is suffocating this country.

What McCain delivered instead is a no enforcement bill. None of the addition handouts and benefits to illegal aliens was tied to enforcement. In other words... John McCain's bill would have caused an uncontrollable flood of illegal aliens over the border. In one word, anarchy.

They say that John McCain is a mean old fart who likes to stick his finger in the eye of his opponents. Why is it that only conservatives get poked in the eye?

When John McCain pulled a Clintonesque move accusing Romney of supporting a withdrawl time table... I knew this man was a liar. I think he should join Hillary on the Democratic ticket. That is where he belongs... with the Clintons.

John McCain conservative? He was open to becoming John Kerry's running mate. He has teamed up with the most liberal politicians in US history to create some of the most liberal bills in US history. He almost switched parties to become a Democrat in 2001.

To the first three posters - I'm naive, please enlighten me. McCain voted against the Bush tax cuts as a fiscal conservative, unwilling to lower revenues without also lowering spending. How does this make him despicable in so many eyes? Seems like a more conservative position than the rest of his Congressional colleagues who spent and spent like drunken sailors who passed the tab onto their children. Seems like a reasonable and principled position to me. And do you hold the same vitriol for President Bush, whose stance on immigration is so similar to McCain's? And do you really believe that Hillary and Bill Clinton in the White House will be better for the country? Please, help me out here....

Prepare to be enlightened. First the idea that McCain stood on conservative fiscal principles in his opposition to the Bush tax cuts is completely false. If you go back and look at what he said at the time he was opposed to the tax cuts because the were for the rich...he never mentioned at the time anything about spending. The reason he didn't mention anything about spending is because at the time the drunken spending had not begun. Most of the crazy spending occured well after these tax cuts were put in place. As far as the immigration deal, yes we conservatives have held the "same vitriol" for Bush as we do with McCain. Thats is precisely why the bill failed. I really do not like what McCain has done since 2000. He uses class warfare rhetoric, his conservative rating has been in freefall with an 82.5% lifetime and a 64% in 2006 or 2004 can't remember, and he acts as if he is doing us a favor by running instead of being grateful for the time he has had in our govt. In 2004 he considered and even lobbied to be on the Democratic ticket with John Kerry. Now he talks about Reagan as if he and Ronnie hold the same principles....I don't think so Reagan left the Dems to become a Repub...not the other way around.

You know the MSM just can't understand why the right wing can't stand their boy Mccain and it should be a matter of calming down. At the same time the media wants to proclaim that the red media is dead and they should just roll over and embrace Mccain and the politics of RINOism. Not going to happen. Romney and Huck are apparently going to stay in till the better end and hope the conservative backlash overwhelms McCain at some point. This is open rebellion here and it's deep seeded..McCain got lucky that the election snuck up on people and he got tons of name ID votes. the country is generally 6 weeks behind what is going on. The wave of negativism towards Mccain isn't going to stop. there are just too many things that conservatives have to eat to embrace this guy.The non-evangelical conservatives also hate the Huckster. Romney has become the main stream republican's champion as the anti-McCain guy.Mccain's arrogance towrds conservatives is coming home to roost. This is the beginning,not the end of the Mccain backlash.. it's no longer good enough to just have someone who can beat the dems. Disaffected republican voters would flock to Obama if he's the dems nom and retool for 2012. If Limbaugh rolled over and supported McCain it would be the end of his career.

Running mates have little impact, notwithstanding the hype. A VP candidate does not have sufficient weight in responsibility or function to make a difference. It is window dressing at best to secure a nomination and will do little in the general election. The burden falls upon the perceived capability of the nominee, hence our problem in the Republican Party with John McCain. He will come across as a military style President in a world that seeks other answers. He will show inordinate ignorance on the economy, the most pressing issue facing America. Without a strong economy, we cannot be strong on National Security. McCain will be a shadow of the old, literally and figuratively, when compared to the youth, vigor, vision and vitality of Obama. We are done and face serious consequences in America with a John McCain nomination, irrespective of the VP choice. Republicans have lost their way and it is truly disappointing to see what we have lost since the days of Reagan. The squandering of what could have been with President Bush, followed by the failings of the Republican electorate to see McCain for what he truly is. If the truth were revealed in a bias MSM, perhaps we would have a chance. John McCain does not carry a mantle of integrity, in spite of his protestations that he is the candidate of truth. In today's society bad is perceived as good and good is perceived as bad. John McCain illustrates this to every wit, for he purports himself as honest and forthright, when he is anything but; he proffers himself as consistent, when in fact, he flip flops more than anyone; And for him to throw stones at Mitt Romney as disingenuous and a flip flopper amazes me, as he is the most disingenuous of the bunch.

Isn't it funny how the Dems run without pretending to be republicans but if conservatives run as purists they are out of the mainstream. The dems don't have to embrace the right wing but republicans have to reach out and embrace Dem policies. That's bullcrap.Why should we have to cave in on immigration,taxes,guns,judges global warming etc. jsut to get adoration from the media?? Guess what at the end of the day the media will support the dem no matter how much the republican sucks up to left wing agenda items.If you reach compromise on issues it should be on your terms not the dems or the media. the McCain liberal wing of the party isn't going to dictate where conservatives go.

Although the economy has moved into first position, immigration is close behind. That fiasco did more damage to Republican fundraising than anything else. McCain will inherit the same money woes because this issue has deeply offended the base as well as voters even in the democrat party. No phone call or endorsement is going to help. To the extent that leaders publically agree with McCain, the base will become even further discouraged.

God only knows what the press is sitting on, waiting for McCain to get the nomination.

Thats what happens when you sleep with the media...you get warts and they video tape them like a Paris Hilton video and then show all your friends on prom night...watching the demise of McCain might actually make me smile.